FREE DINING UPDATE- RUMOR and SPECULATION / Update Page 80 !

[nooneshome]

I have enjoyed reading this thread the last few days. Thanks guys. My interest is based on getting free dining for the first week in December which if they make this offer won't come out until July. I figure if they offer the August-October FD I have a good chance of getting my dates.

Happy Hunting!!!

P.S. Disney is addicted to special offers so I think we should all get something to use.

 

[trynitey]

I'm really hoping it's the same as it was last year where you got free dining even with a value for the length of your stay as long as you booked one of their resorts and purchased atleast a 1 day magic your way pass. This will let us do character dining with my kids (ages 4 and 2 at the time we are going). I only need passes for my 4 year old, as I have 3 day passes for my husband and I. So a value resort and free full service dining would be a better deal for us. Unless it's a bigger deal off of a resort room, that is the only way it'll be worth it for us. 3 days is plenty for my girls, and we plan to spend a day at Seaworld too. We are going regardless though, and I have already booked in September with a 25% off room pin code. Just waiting to see if anything better is going to come out, and if not, it doesn't. But, I'd love to get free dining even on a value since next year we are doing DVC and I don't see us paying for character dining out of our own pocket, even at a discount. The food we experienced last year was just *alright* and I think we'll end up eating off site if we don't have free dining.

 

[kerabriann]

Since i've been reading these threads and hearing about pins just for the heck of it I called and asked a CM if there was a pin with my name she said yes free quickservice dining any date until Aug 14th.well.... I had never heard of these pins, never got an email or US mail!!!!! soooooo I booked our trip for Aug16-24 isnt that nice if I would have known I had the pin we would be going in june! But nooooo i booked when I know FD is usually offered during hurricane season and wasnt told about the pin then and already have air so cant change dates so now I dont know if we are going to get any kind of promo. Thanks to Disney for letting me know,my family has been there at least 10 times! Im very upset to say the least!

 

[lizandjason]

...and the CM I just spoke with told me that normally it only takes an hour when they 'add something' to upgrade the system, and that 'this must be an "EXPENSIVE" one.

HMMMMMM....I didn't dare mention the words 'Free Dining' to him, but I'm going to speculate and do my pre-FD banana dance, here it goes...

 

[gigi1313]

That's HILARIOUS.. LOVE IT!

We need to talk about my DIS deductions and how I might deduct my vacation..

i deduct my wdw vacations!

okay... here's my prediction (based on info passed along to me, if i'm close, i don't want to take credit for just being a good guesser! LOL!)

• early may another summer deal... a little better/broader audience than the last one...
• late may/early june, a "fall" offer... not free dining... maybe another gift card or 7 for 4 deal... rumor has it that disney is avoiding fd like the plague!

today's deal reminds me of the old "magical beginnings" campaign... it's for the same demographic (preschoolers/young children) and the fact that most districts are still in school, it follows the same logic as magical beginning, come to disney w/your little ones when the bigger kids are not here yet...

whatever deals come along, i hope they fulfill some disney dreams

 

[disneyfantotheend]

rumor has it that disney is avoiding fd like the plague:

Kind of like we are avoiding the fact that it more than likely isn't going to be released?

 

[gigi1313]

Kind of like we are avoiding the fact that it more than likely isn't going to be released?

yep, just like that!

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

Since i've been reading these threads and hearing about pins just for the heck of it I called and asked a CM if there was a pin with my name she said yes free quickservice dining any date until Aug 14th.well.... I had never heard of these pins, never got an email or US mail!!!!! soooooo I booked our trip for Aug16-24 isnt that nice if I would have known I had the pin we would be going in june! But nooooo i booked when I know FD is usually offered during hurricane season and wasnt told about the pin then and already have air so cant change dates so now I dont know if we are going to get any kind of promo. Thanks to Disney for letting me know,my family has been there at least 10 times! Im very upset to say the least!

While I understand your frustration over the PIN code, but your trip booked later in the month, FD is never a guarantee and you should never count on it. So, I'm asking, and I'm only asking, so don't get mad at me: are you upset because you didn't know that you had a PIN and booked a trip that didn't include your dates, or are you upset that FD hasn't been offered?

 

[kerabriann]

While I understand your frustration over the PIN code, but your trip booked later in the month, FD is never a guarantee and you should never count on it. So, I'm asking, and I'm only asking, so don't get mad at me: are you upset because you didn't know that you had a PIN and booked a trip that didn't include your dates, or are you upset that FD hasn't been offered?

Im upset because i was never notified about the pin. Yes i booked it anticipating FD, yes I know we may not get it but the real reason I am upset is we would have it and we would be going in June if i was aware of the pin.

 

[pooch]

FD has never had blackout dates(it is a package what if you checked in 5days before the holiday and stayed thru it?)...I swear sometimes AAA doesn't know sqaut! When I booked thru them a few years back for their package discount I had to tell them about FD they knew nothing about it...It got me so nervous I swore I would never book with them again...I had to call 3times the morning the DV promo came out...talk about STRESS! NEVER again I tell you NEVAH!!!

With apologies to the TAs (AAA and non) who frequent these boards, the 3 (ok I don't learn quickly) I used to book Disney trips were beyond clueless. I had to argue, poke, prod and cajole them into getting the discounts to which I was entitled.

You absolutely can get FD over Labor Day (IF they offer FD). That weekend has never been blacked out. Drop that agent like a hot potato, keep watching and asking questions here and book the trip yourself. Really, its easy, breezy, lemon squeezy!!!

 

[Melanie230]

I checked the AAA rate for the time we are going to WDW in September. It's apx $90 cheaper to book through them. I currently have a trip booked through disney. I still have time to cancel and not lose anything just have to wait for my deposit to be refunded. Is it worth switching to AAA for the $90? To me saving $90 means more to spend on the trip. However if/when deals come out for Sept am I going to be able to save with AAA? AAA told me since I'm going 4th - 11th IF free dinning comes out we wouldn't qualify due to it being a holiday weekend that we arrive. Has anyone ever gone in the past years over Labor Day week and not been able to get free dinning when it was offered? I'm kinda jumping ahead and worried about something that might not even happen. Just thought maybe someone on DIS can give some thoughts.

I booked our first and only trip so far to Disney with AAA. My AAA was really great. They print everything off for you, they send you little surprises now and then. We got coupon books, and Disney luggage tags. $90 is $90!

 

[katieam1]

FD has never had blackout dates(it is a package what if you checked in 5days before the holiday and stayed thru it?)...I swear sometimes AAA doesn't know sqaut! When I booked thru them a few years back for their package discount I had to tell them about FD they knew nothing about it...It got me so nervous I swore I would never book with them again...I had to call 3times the morning the DV promo came out...talk about STRESS! NEVER again I tell you NEVAH!!!

I had the same problem when we booked with AAA. We bought the package before a discount came out, paid then I found out about the 4/3 promo called they knew nothing and then they kept telling me they had to call me back to talk to Disney. They called me back and was like you already booked your package so they don't like to change it but they will do it this once! So that was the last time I booked through AAA. I like booking through Disney anyways that way I can talk to them myself, no middle man!

My parents always booked through them that's why we used them but I have to say we always felt they were great to talk to......until they had your money then it was like oh I am sorry I will have to call you back and guess what no call back. I use them now for just my directions, if I need a tow or if I lock myself out of my car. (Which only happened once but still it helped! LOL)

 

[DISNEY1975]

Pop 4 weeknights: $533.12 (until 8/15)
2 Adult 5 Day Base: 497
2 Adult QSDP: $255.92

Total You'd Pay: $1286.04

What You'd Save:

2 Kids 5 Day Base: $425.10
2 Kids QSDP: $79.92

Total Saved: $505.02

Total Savings: 28.197%

Still better savings than Free Dining in Sept.

Total Savings 39.2%

 

[doccoc2002]

With apologies to the TAs (AAA and non) who frequent these boards,

I really should of added that in my post...sorry TA's...I wasn't trying to be rude/disrespectful(I went to school for travel/tourism) I just meant that some TA's don't know anything about Disney and when you get one AVOID them at all cost but there are plenty who do know a lot about Disney and will work to get the best deal...Pooch is right Drop your TA.

 

[Bridge203618]

rumor has it that disney is avoiding fd like the plague![/LIST]

then why are they giving out so many FD pins?

 

[Bridge203618]

I would think they would be trying promos that encourage longer stays if they are THAT worried.... like something with dining, even the chase offer might encourage longer stays with kids eating free...

 

[mickey2000]

then why are they giving out so many FD pins?

Because some Disney guests will go no matter what. Others will need a little push. With ALL the days (306) I have been to Disney, not once did I ever get a pin ! They know what they are doing

 

[NorweJenNY]

then why are they giving out so many FD pins?

Why are so many FD pins just for QS DP, even if staying at a moderate?

 

[gigi1313]

Because some Disney guests will go no matter what. Others will need a little push. With ALL the days (306) I have been to Disney, not once did I ever get a pin ! They know what they are doing

same here... i've never counted up my days, but i'm sure it's close to yours (+/- 100! LOL) and i've never had a pin!

also, to answer why so many FD pins... they are QSFD, which is a little different...

 

[beachgrl001]

Ok I have been thinking about it. I have decided to continue planning my trip as usual. There is NO way Disney isnt going to offer some kind of good promo for the fall. Sept is hurricane season, kisd are back in school. They want to get people there they will offer a promo. (Im trying to be positive here please dont rain on my parade)
Every year I have gone in Sept. it has been empty(except for the resturants) I have rarely waited for rides. If they dont offer anything I will change my plans a little(like move my trip to October) Maybe they have spoiled me with free dining but if I dont get some kind of discount for Sept. I will go a different month, and possibly stay offsite(old school, like we used to do).
Just my thoughts for today, my feelings will probably change tomorow (or in an hour)